Once Saved, Always Saved?

 

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

 

Just about the time you think you’ve beaten sin out of your life, Satan will show you that he rules this earth and every human on it! Don’t ever make the mistake of believing you have won the game and are bound for heaven. You must be on guard against sin constantly and fight it with the truth of God’s Holy Word.

 

1 Corinthians 10:1-11 tells a story “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ. But with many of them, God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [examples]: and they are for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

 

Here, the writer gives us an example of those who were once in good graces with God, but they fell into sinful ways and were punished later. These are examples of things we should not do if we want to remain in the good graces of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

“For it had been better for them not to have known the ‘way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”(2 Peter 2:21).

 

For those who have accepted the Word of God and now know the Word of God, if they turn their backs on Christ, it will be even harder for them to return to the righteous and honorable things they learned. And if they never repent, their judgment will be much harsher than for those who have never heard the word.

 

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6).

 

Once we know something is a sin, repent of it, and ask forgiveness, if we then go back to committing that sin, it is much harder for God and His Son to accept our word that we will repent again. It is a little like the story about the boy who cried “Wolf!” What can we do to be sure of our salvation?

 

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of this place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:5).

 

2 Peter 1:2-10 says “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience Godliness; and to Godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

 

Whew! Can you measure up to what you first accepted when you became a Christian? And if you haven’t accepted these ideals yet, do you think you can be diligent and not fall once you do take that first step? And if you don’t accept Christ as your savior, what could be the end result?

 

“When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But He shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”